GANT RELOAD: Week of May 19

The GantDaily.com weekly reload gives readers a look back upon the most noteworthy stories of their work week. It contains the big headlines, as well as a few stories you might have missed. It might even include a story or two of the lighter side.

The GantDaily.com reload will be posted each weekend for your perusal. For most part, the reload will be filled with local headlines, but every now and again, a state, world or national story will make the list.

GOSHEN TOWNSHIP – Firefighters responded to a barn fire Sunday night at a dairy farm on 51 Coons Rd. in Goshen Township. The photos and video of the fire are courtesy of GantDaily.com reader Holly Ryan.

DUBOIS – Middle school-aged girls from throughout the region recently got a first-hand look at some math and science intensive career fields at Penn State DuBois.

Nearly 200 seventh grade girls from 14 schools were introduced to careers and every day activities that require skills in mathematics and science during the annual Math Options Program.

The program is designed teach young girls how skills in these areas apply to a variety of real-world situations and rewarding careers. The hope is that they stay interested in mathematics by learning about the opportunities and success that they can realize through its’ use.

CLEARFIELD – The Clearfield Revitalization Corp. (CRC) Design Committee, in conjunction with CNB Bank, organized the second Downtown Beautification Day on Saturday in Clearfield.

Almost 75 community volunteers joined together to landscape tree boxes and clean the sidewalks, preparing the downtown for the summer season. More than 65 tree boxes were weeded, mulched and planted with flowers.

DUBOIS – State Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) is attending an overseas NATO training exercise this month as a part of his duties as a captain and medical logistics officer with the 28th Infantry Division of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard.

Members of the division staff are taking part in a multi-national exercise in France to strengthen ties and work with military units from other NATO allied nations.

“The 28th Infantry Division was specially selected to attend this training on behalf of our country,” Gabler said. “I am honored to have this opportunity to continue my service by participating in this exercise and working alongside our foreign counterparts and NATO allies.”

Business Administrator Sam Maney has projected the district’s revenues will be $33,249,807. He’s also projected its expenditures will be $36,560,438, resulting in a deficit of $3,310,631.

According to Maney, he initially projected a $2,548,425 budget deficit for the current-year. The district, he said, has already trimmed that budget deficit to $1,170,331, or by approximately $1.4 million.

DUBOIS – Sandy Township is expected to receive its next installment of reimbursement funds for flood damage from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The FEMA has awarded the township $172,930.74 of approximately $230,000. When asked by resident Pamela August, Township Manager Dave Monella wasn’t sure if more funding would be forthcoming.

The township, he said, had already received approximately $14,000 from the FEMA. He said it was to replenish the general funds depleted by the flood. It was also noted that the township spent $13,000 on dumpsters alone.

A federal judge has declared a Pennsylvania ban on same-sex marriages unconstitutional.

NBC News has reported that Judge John Jones III has ruled in favor of 23 residents who challenged the law.

“The issue we resolve today is a divisive one. Some of our citizens are made deeply uncomfortable by the notion of same-sex marriage. However, that same-sex marriage causes discomfort in some does not make its prohibition constitutional,” he said.

HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Corbett said he won’t appeal a court decision that struck down the state’s gay marriage ban.

Corbett’s decision Wednesday means that same-sex marriage will remain legal in Pennsylvania, without the threat that a higher court will reinstate the ban.

“I have thoroughly reviewed Judge Jones’ opinion in the Whitewood case,” Corbett said in a statement. “Given the high legal threshold set forth by Judge Jones in this case, the case is extremely unlikely to succeed on appeal. Therefore, after review of the opinion and on the advice of my Commonwealth legal team, I have decided not to appeal Judge Jones’ decision.”

BROOKVILLE – Two people are facing numerous charges following a meth bust in Brookville earlier today.

On April 1, Jefferson County Drug Task Force and Pennsylvania State Police Troop C (Punxsutawney) Vice Unit began an investigation into suspected manufacturing and distribution of methamphetamine at 124 Crestwood Circle in Brookville.

Today, the Pennsylvania State Police SERT team executed a search warrant at the residence and subsequently took Keith A. McNaughton, 29, and Kari L. Housler, 26, both of Brookville, into custody.

CLEARFIELD – The Clearfield County Historical Society Board of Directors met this week at the Kerr House Museum.

President Denny Shaffner reported on the progress being made on the Alexander Research Center. The board voted to award the bid to remodel the new facility to Lawrence A. Graham Jr., and it was noted that construction is to begin next month.

HARRISBURG – The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has released the 2013 Susquehanna River Sampling Report, detailing the latest results from the aggressive sampling effort across the Susquehanna River and many of its tributaries.

“Our efforts on the Susquehanna River over the past two years represent an unprecedented amount of study. The agency has dedicated a great amount of staff time on this river,” DEP Secretary E. Christopher Abruzzo said. “We are learning more every day, but there is still work to be done.”

HARRISBURG – Veterans from two local municipalities would be memorialized under legislation sponsored by State Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk). House Bill 1135 may now be taken up by the state Senate following unanimous passage by the House.

“Members of the Penfield and Johnsonburg communities have reached out to me and expressed a desire to have their local veterans honored in this manner. The Huston Township supervisors and Johnsonburg Borough Council both passed resolutions requesting these designations,” Gabler said.

ST MARYS – In the wake of severe weather that struck a number of Elk County communities Wednesday morning, State Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) is issuing the following statement:

“I have been in touch with my staff frequently during my overseas NATO training exercises in France with the 28th Infantry Division of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. They reached out to me immediately Wednesday, as they began to hear of the damage caused by the heavy thunderstorms that rolled through the area.

“My heart goes out to the local residents who have been severely impacted by the weather, particularly everyone in Benezette, Jay Township, Johnsonburg, Penfield and Ridgway, where I’m told the flooding is the worst. Please know while I am a great distance away, the resources of my St. Marys district office are at your disposal.

WEST DECATUR – Project Stream Grant guidelines and application information are now available for non-profit organizations and individuals who wish to apply for support (up to $2,500) to fund an arts project with a public component during 2014-15.

Through the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA), the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) is creating opportunities for arts projects through Project Stream grants, which take place between Sept. 1 and Aug. 31, 2015. The application deadline is June 20.

CLEARFIELD – A Clearfield woman accused of stealing rent money from residents at the Dimeling Senior Center pleaded guilty recently during plea and colloquy court with sentencing in Clearfield County.

Cara Marie Artiola, 33, 315 Reighard St., Clearfield, pleaded guilty to theft by unlawful taking, theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, and forgery. She was sentenced to seven months to two years less one day in jail and two years consecutive probation. She was fined $600 and was ordered to pay over $8,300 in restitution.

WILLIAMSPORT – The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has announced it has awarded a $944,819 contract for the Salem Church abandoned mine reclamation project in Boggs and Bradford townships, Clearfield County.

Comprised of two separate sites about three miles apart, the Salem Church project will include grading, excavating, erosion control turf reinforcement, wildlife brush barriers and seeding.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Reps. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA) and Tim Ryan (D-OH), joined by a diverse group of supporting organizations, held a press conference to discuss the Medical Evaluation Parity for Service Members (MEPS) Act (H.R. 4305/S. 2231), which has passed the House as an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Thompson and Ryan introduced the MEPS Act on March 27. The bill, which will help the military better identify behavioral health issues and improve suicide prevention, requires a preliminary mental health assessment for all incoming military recruits.

Following the shooting at Fort Hood Army Base in Killeen, Texas, on April 2, the legislation quickly garnered broad support from military, veteran and mental health organizations, and on April 9, 2014, U.S. Senators Rob Portman and Jay Rockefeller introduced a Senate companion bill, S. 2231.